Spinach, Strawberry & Goat Cheese Salad with Poppyseed Vinaigrette

I’m going to keep this brief and simple today, for you and for me. This lovely little salad comes together in just a few minutes, dressing included, provided you have your ingredients gathered, or your “mise en place” if you want to get fancy about it. It’s a perfect summer salad with the beautiful strawberry as the star of the show and it will make you look like the superstar you are in the kitchen. Yes you are, don’t be modest now! There’s something about vinegar that brings out the flavor of the strawberry like nothing else and this vinaigrette is so easy! I hope it inspires you to make your own salad dressing more often as it’s a subject I care deeply about. Also, the poppy seeds add a nice crunch, the goat cheese provides tang and a creamy texture, and the spinach provides a great base for the salad.

Spinach, Strawberry & Goat Cheese Salad with Poppyseed Vinaigrette

(serves 2 – 3)

1 TB red wine vinegar

1/2 TB agave nectar

salt & pepper

1/2 tsp poppy seeds

1 TB olive oil

4 medium/large strawberries

2 – 3 cups baby spinach

2 – 4 TB goat cheese, crumbled

If you are serving this salad immediately, start your dressing right in the salad bowl as shown, otherwise make it in a smaller, separate bowl and toss just before serving.

Combine red wine vinegar, agave,

a small pinch of salt, some fresh ground pepper,

and poppy seeds and whisk together.

Whisk in olive oil and stir briskly until well combined.

Remove stems and slice strawberries.

Add to the vinaigrette along with a few handful of spinach. Keep in mind the spinach will wilt down a bit.

Toss to coat the spinach and strawberries with vinaigrette.

Add 2 – 4 TB goat cheese (as much or as little as you like). Serve and enjoy this delicious and very nutritious salad!

A happy quote to go along with a happy dish…

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”

Hello! I'm Molly, aka Auntie. I live in beautiful Bend, OR with my husband, twin girls, and our dogs, Scooter and Scout. I love to share cherished family recipes and develop recipes of my own, focusing on wholesome, healthy ingredients. I started this blog with the intention to teach my nieces and others to prepare meals on their own and demystify the process a bit. I hope to encourage and inspire home cooking because I truly believe it’s essential to our health and well-being.